Balayage highlights have quickly become one of the hottest hair trends. Not only are they extremely natural-looking, but it allows your locks to grow out without looking over processed or grey.
Not all balayage techniques are created equal – keep reading to discover which technique best complements your shade of blonde or brunette hair.
Chocolate Brown
Chocolate brown is one of the most versatile brunette hues, flattering both warm and cool skin tones beautifully. From milky-light to dark and decadent hues, it serves as the ideal background for caramel highlights that shimmer beautifully across every shade of caramel hues. Ask your colorist to use SHINEFINITY Color Glaze for a chocolate hue that’s rich, glossy and radiant – ideal for all complexions.
Balayage involves painting freehand color onto specific areas of your hair – similar to how Jill achieved the caramel tones on her bob – for a subtler lift that highlights natural hues more gently. It creates a striking sun-kissed finish, especially when worn loose and pulled back into an elegant ponytail. For optimal results between salon visits, invest in products designed to boost shine – such as INVIGO Brilliance Color Protection Shampoo and INVIGO Brilliance Vibrant Color Conditioner by INVIGO Brilliance Brilliance Vibrant Color Conditioner which help safeguard against chlorine, saltwater exposure for healthy-looking locks!
Dirty Blonde
Dirty blonde is an adaptable hue, suitable for many complexions. When combined with warm brown roots, its radiant glow creates a naturally radiant finish suited to those seeking a more subtle style.
Ice-tone blonde balayage blends subtle hints of ash blonde into a warm or natural blonde base to achieve a soft yet dimensional look that adds contrast and shine without being overly bright. This technique works wonderfully on all strand types and textures; particularly effective when applied to longer locks.
Lightening your hair often results in some brassiness; to avoid unwanted yellow tones, consider using L’Oreal Paris EverPure Sulfate Free Purple Shampoo and conditioner for optimal results. Both these options will keep your blonde looking cool, bright, and brass-free!
Natural Sand Blonde
Balayage can help recreate that youthful hue, as it gives your stylist freedom to paint sunnier, softer strands where they naturally fall. Your colorist may also backcomb your roots before coloring or use an Airtouch technique to soften transition and hide regrowth lines.
Copper balayage brings warmth to medium skin tones with a more subdued approach than all-over platinum. This color trend also works wonders on wavy locks as its subtle finish complements bends and curls for an authentic, lived-in look.
Balayage works beautifully on short hair, as your colorist can easily create face-framing lighter strands to accentuate the cut and highlight your natural texture. Balayage also works beautifully for dark brunettes as it adds just enough contrast without appearing harsh; using techniques such as buttercream or caramel can accentuate rich complexions while going bolder can take advantage of warm vanilla hues or beige tones for maximum effect.
Copper Infusion
Balayage can be applied in numerous ways to achieve your desired look – from subtle highlights that enhance base colors, through baby lights that add dimension, all the way up to full-on chunky highlights (which provide more substantial dimensions). It may even be used to softly offset or highlight greys instead of covering them up!
Balayage offers many advantages over traditional highlights, including being less time consuming to maintain and low maintenance requirements; typically only needing touchups every few months for freshness of color. Time spent refreshing your balayage may depend on its multidimensionality or scatteredness – typically 45 to an hour at most salons; clear sheets protect both face and shoulder from being affected by this freehand coloring method without foils.
